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The
program allowed donors a 75% Illinois income tax credit toward
donations to fund school choice scholarships for qualified
families throughout the state.
During the fall veto session, lawmakers chose not to extend the
program.
Ted Dabrowski, of Wirepoints, said other states have introduced
the school choice program, another reason people could leave the
state.
"If they [parents] can not get good schools, then you can not
blame them for leaving," Dabrowski told The Center Square. "This
lack of school choice in Illinois and much more school choice in
other states is another reason for families to pick up and move
to another state."
While lawmakers were discussing the extension of the Invest in
Kids Act, Sabrina Sibby, a parent of four boys, was involved in
the program. She said if the program was cut, she would have to
quit her job to homeschool her children just to avoid enrolling
them back into Chicago Public Schools.
"I probably would opt out of homeschooling," Sibby told The
Center Square. "That would be difficult for me because then I
would have to quit my job and work on making sure he gets the
things he needs to get. I'm still sure it would be a financial
burden on me because I would have to purchase certain things."
According to Dabrowski, state legislators are too tied in with
teachers' unions and want to ensure public schools are still
being used.
"Our politicians are beholden to the teachers union here,"
Dabrowski said. "We probably have the strongest linkage between
politicians and unions compared to any other state in the
country. As long as they're working together the way they do,
scratching each other's backs, they're not going to give parents
another choice."
Ohio, Iowa, Virginia, Indiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Utah, and
Florida have implemented school choice for 2023, and Tennessee
is looking to do the same. West Virginia and Arizona already had
school choice options.
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